Bookbinding apparatus



Dec. 31, 1940. M. BERLANSTEIN BOOKBINDING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed May 20, 1 939 Zzg Z $323 w 5' 50/1 3675a MW CHM Wi e:

Dec. 31, 1940. M. BERLANSTEIN 2,227,213

BOOKBINDING APPARATUS Filed May 20, 1939 3' Sheets-Sheet 2 momma;

Dec. 31, 1940. M. BERLANSTEIN 2,227,213

BOOKEINDING APPARATUS Filed May 20, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 swam WMflzzidrz flerlazzsiazw Patented Dec. 31, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 14 Claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, portable andinexpensive apparatus, particularly adapted for use by students oramateurs, in schools, in shops, in print shops, and

5 elsewhere.

A further object of my invention is to provide a bookbinding apparatuswhich is a complete unit in that all the ordinary processes andoperations of bookbinding and book repairing can be carried out with it;which processes and operations include drilling, side stitching, saddlestitching, backing, trimming, pressing, stamping, etc., and to permitthe performing of these processes and operations for any type ofbookbinding work, as for example books consisting of various signatures,magazines, loose sheets etc.

This invention pertains more especially among other things to (A) thetwo clamping or pressing boards forming the nucleus for the unit and tothe assembly of these boards by means of bolts and wing nuts; (B) to theuse of coil springs which elevate the top board when pressure is removedby loosening the wing nuts thus facilitating insertion of sheets orsignatures between the boards; to the device for setting up cords ortapes for saddle stitching; (D) to the device for clamping the materialpreparatory for drilling for the purpose of side stitching; (E) to thejogging plate for holding the leaves of the book in the proper positionpreparatory to clamping and drilling and similarly for holding properlysame in a different position for the purpose of side stitching; (F) tothe device for backing F books; and (G) to the adjustable cutting plowwhich slides across the front of the press and trims off the edge of thebook that is protruding from between the press boards.

My invention and improvements are further explained by references to theaccompanying 40 drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my bookbinding apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a front View and Fig. 3 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus and is shown together withthe jogging guide and the trimmer mounted on it;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of the drilling clamp;

Fig. 6 is a detail showing of the trimmer in operation;

Fig. 7 is a face view of the trimmer unit;

Fig. 8 is a detail showing of a portion thereof;

Fig. 9 is a detail showing of the jogging guide mounted on the press andFig. 10 is a perspective view of the jogging guide.

Like parts are identified by the same reference numerals throughout theseveral views.

The press portion of the unit consists of two identically sized hardwood boards 20, 2| with bolts 22 passing through the two boards a shortdistance in from the corners. At the bottom of the board 20 are twocleats 23 that run along go through them. When wing nuts 25, 26 arescrewed back up on bolts the springs 6 force board 2| up and hold it inraised position until wing nuts are again screwed down. Metal strips 21are set in the ends of board 2| to prevent warping, bending andcracking. The back edges of the boards are cut at an angle as shown andalso have secured to them band metal strips 28. In the front edge ofboard 20 is cut a rabbet 29. The remainder of the front edge of board 20is covered by a reinforcing metal strip 30 which has' a rounded upperedge that protrudes slightly above the inside face of board 20. Runningalong the bottom edge of rabbet 29 and closing said rabbet on the thirdside ismetal strip 3| aflixed to the lower face of the board by screws.is in this groove 29 that the plow rideswhen trimming as shown in Fig.4. More will be said of this plow later in the description. Completelycovering the front edge of the board 2| is the metal strip 32 that issecured in place by wood screws and has its upper edge flush with theoutside face of board and has its inside edge rounded and slightlyprotruding below the inside face of board. A short distance in from eachend of strip 32 are two tapped holes toadmit thumb screws 33. Thumbscrews serve to hold the tape securer 34 in place. The tape securer 34runs along the front edge of board 2| and is made of the same type ofwoodas the boards are made of. The upper edge of the tape securer 34 isflush with the top face of the board2l and the top edge of the metalstrip 32, but the bottom edge of the tape securer is set well back fromthe bottom edge of the metal strip. Thumb screws 33 pass The holes aredrilled through the tape securer and screw into tapped holes in metalstrip 32.

The press is held securely in a horizontal position to a table, benchetc. by four suction cups 35. The upper portion of the suction cups fitover the heads of the bolts and are held in place in that manner.

The drilling clamp consists of the two main parts, 36 and 31. The bottompart 31 is a strip of iron or other suitable metal that has two holesdrilled in it to allow bolts 22 to pass through it. On each end of thestrip 31, there are three projecting pins 38, 39, 4d. Thesepins are tohold the jogging guide 58 in place. More will be said of this guidelater. The top part 38 of the drilling clamp consists of an iron castingof the same length and width as the lower part 31 and has its lowersurface machined. The part 3'! has. two holes in it to allow bolts 22 topass through it in the same relative place as they pass through thelower part. The top part 31 also has enlarged holes in it about thebolts 22 to admit coil springs 4|. These coil springs 4| force the upperpart 36 of the drilling clamp to rise when wing nuts 25 are unscrewed.The coil springs 4i used on the drilling clamp are much weaker than thefour coil springs 24 that are used to raise the upper board of thepress. The top part of the drilling clamp has holes 42 at a slightdistance in from the edge and suitably spaced from each other, theseserving as guides for the convenient drilling of a book when the tableor side stitch method is employed. Holes 43 in the lower part of thedrilling clamp are directly below the holes 42' but are a little largerand are also countersunk on the inner end of the hole. Both holes 42 and43 are in that part of the drilling clamp that extends over the backedge of board 2|. 44 and 45 are guides against which the ends of thepapers or signatures, that are placed in the drilling clamps, arejogged. The guide 44 is a round piece of metal that screws into thelower part 31 of the drilling clamp and passes through a hole in theupper part 36 of the drilling clamp. The guide 45 is a wooden dowel thatis held by friction in a hole in the board 2|. The guide 45 is directlyin line with guide 44.

The saddle stitching frame is disposed at the front of the unit andconsists of the upper tape securer 46 which is made of the same kind ofwood as the boards are made of, and has two holes in it to allow bolts22 to pass through it, and also has an elongated opening 41 cut in it.The upper tape securer 46 rests on nuts and washers 48. When the strip46 is in the desired position it is locked in place by tightening downwashers and nuts 49. The opening 41, which is directly above the lowertape securer 34 and is as wide as the lower tape securer, has a seriesof removable pegs 60 in it. A wooden dowel 6| is held by friction in ahole in the upper board and passes through a 'hole in upper tape securer46 and is used to jog signatures against when they are placed in thesaddle stitching frame.

The plow for trimming consists of the heavy element which has attachedto it on its bottom edge the cutting blade which is held in place bybeveled piece 53 and metal screw 54. The two guide rods 55 screw intothe element 5| and are secured in that manner. The jack screw 56passesthrough the element 5|. The portion of the jack screw 56thatpasses through the element 5| is slightly reduced in diameter. The plate51 has two holes in it for the guide rods 55 to pass through and has atapped hole in it to fit jack screw 56. The plate 5'! is rabbeted thusproviding a shouldered portion 58 which enters the groove 29 in theboard 23. Thumb screw 58 is attached to the jack screw by a rivet. Thetwo tubes 59 are carried by the guides 55 and serve to prevent the plate51 from being drawn up against the blade 52 and in that way ruining itskeen edge.

The jogging guide 50 seen in Fig. is made of stamped sheet iron. It hasa few openings 50 in its front to enable one to see the material whileit is being forced against it. It has notches 62, 63, 64 in the bottomof its side walls 65 that lit over pegs 38, 39, and 46 on the ends ofthe lower plate 31 of the drilling clamp when the jogging guide 50 isset in place.

. The adjustments that have to be made on the unit for the manyoperations involved in the binding or repairing of a book are a simplefew as can be seen from the following. To further the ease ofunderstanding the versatility of my unit I shall describe all theoperations necessary for the complete binding of a book on my unit byboth the side and saddle stitch methods.

How side stitching is done on my unit (assuming the unit to be as inFig. 3) .Loosen wingnuts 25 and plate of the drilling clamp will beforced up by springs 4!. Now place jogging guide 53 in place fordrilling on the front of the drilling clamp by bringing notches 32, 63,64 in engagement with pegs 38, 39 and 40. Papers or signatures that areto be bound are placed in the drilling clamp. When putting the papers orsignatures in the drilling clamp, jog the ends of the material againstguides 44, 45 and jog the edge at right angles to the end against thejogging guide 50. The openings 50' in jogging guide 50 will enable youto see whether all the material in the drilling clamp is set properlybefore it is clamped for drilling. Tighten down wing nuts 25 clampingthe material between the two parts of the drilling clamp. By nowdrilling down through holes 42, with a twist drill of the same diameteras that of holes, until the drill can be seen on the under side of thelower portion of the drilling clamp, holes will be made in the materialthat is clamped in the drilling clamps that will be of the properdiameter and be the proper distance in from the edge for best results inside stitching. The jogging guide 50 is now moved back by placingnotches 62 over pegs 39 which will again bring notches 64 over pegs 4?).The wing nuts 25 are now loosened and the material in the drillingclamp, that has just been drilled is moved forward until it is againagainst the jogging frame 50. The wing nuts 25 are again tightened; theguide 50 is removed and the material sewn.

To trim the book on my unit (assuming. the unit to be as in Fig. 3).-Remove the tape securer 34 by unscrewing thumb screws 33. Loosen wingnuts 25, 26 until board 2! is raised by coil springs 24 to a point thatwill admit the material 66 you wish to trim, between the boards 20 and2! Place the material 65 between boards with the waste you wish to trimoil protruding out beyond the metal strip 30, 32 on the front edge.Insert cutting board 61 between the material to be trimmed and board 25]in the position shown. Tighten down wing nuts 25, 26 until they will gono further. Stand the press on the edges 23. The cutting plow is thenplaced over the upper edge by inserting the shouldered portion 58 intogroove 29 and twisting thumb screw 58 until the point of the blade justtouches the material to be removed. Draw the plow along to a point whereit has passed the material to be removed and give the thumb screw atwist to draw the blade in a bit. Now draw the plow across the front ofthe press keeping the part 58 in groove 29. This will bring the blade 52across the protruding material of 66 and out part of it away. Now twistthe thumb screw 58 again to'draw blade in and come back across the frontof the press. Continue this until all the protruding waste is removed.

To back a book on my unit (assuming the unit to be as in Fig. 3).Removethe lower tape holder 34 as described above. Clamp the material to bebacked between the boards with the edge to be backed protruding beyondbacking irons 28. Stand the press up so it rests on its front, that isit rests on iron pieces 30 and 32. The material is now being held in aconvenient position to be rounded and backed.

How pressing is done on my unit (assuming the unit to be as in Fig. 3).When the cover has glue on it and is placed on contents, clamp itbetween boards, having the projecting edges of metal strip 30, 32 fitinto the hinge of the book cover. By screwing down wing nuts 25, 26 thetwo boards are forced together. When the book is in pressing positionall that is necessary is to stand the unit up on the back end so itrests on the edges 28 and the book is in position to be lettered on itsback.

How saddle stitching is done on my unit (Assuming the unit to be as inFig. 3) .Cut the desired number of tapes to size. Loosen lower tapeholder by unscrewing the thumb screws 33. Place the bottom of the tapesbetween wooden strip 34 and metal strip 32 by tightening thumb screw 33.Remove pegs 60 from opening. Bring the upper ends of the tapes, throughopening 41 and after drawing each one tight wedge it in place by forcinga peg 6B in next to it. When all the necessary tapes are in place theymay be tightened by screwing up nuts 48.

While I have described more or less precisely the details ofconstruction, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto,as I contemplate changes in form and the proportion of parts and thesubstitution of equivalents and circumstances may suggest or renderexpedient without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A bookbinding apparatus comprising: a pair of boards forming a press,a threaded bolt passing through each corner of said press; a tape holderassociated therewith and comprising a clamping strip removably carriedby an edge of a board of the press, for holding one end of the tapes, asecond cooperating tape holder carried by one pair of said bolts forholding the other end of the tapes, said second holder having alongitudinal slot to receive the ends of the tapes and wedges to holdsaid tapes in said slot.

2. A bookbinding apparatus comprising a pair of superposed boardsforming a press, a threaded bolt passing through each corner of saidpress and extending substantially beyond the upper board, helicalsprings disposed between said boards and surrounding said bolts to holdsaid boards in spaced relation, nuts on said bolts operable to closesaid boards against the action of the springs, a tape holder carried bythe protruding portions of one pair of said bolts, and a drill guidecarried by the protruding portions of another pair of said bolts.

3. A bookbinding apparatus comprising a pair of superposed boardsforming a press, a threaded bolt passing through each corner of saidpress and extending substantially beyond the upper board, helicalsprings disposed between said boards and surrounding said bolts to holdsaid boards in spaced relation, nuts on said bolts operable to closesaid boards against the action of the springs, a tape holder carried bythe protruding portions of one pair of said bolts, and a drill guidecarried by the protruding portions of another pair of said bolts, saiddrill guide comprising a pair of narrow plates carried by said bolts,spring means for holding said plates in any desired spaced relation topermit the introduction of work between the plates, said plates eachhaving a series of holes equally spaced from the edge of the plate toserve as drill guides.

4. A bookbinding apparatus comprising a pair of superposed boardsforming a press, a threaded bolt passing through each corner of saidpress and extending substantially beyond the upper board, helicalsprings disposed between said boards and surrounding said bolts to holdsaid boards in spaced relation, nuts on said bolts operable to closesaid boards against the action of the springs, a tape holder carried bythe protruding portions of one pair of said bolts, and a drill guidecarried by the protruding portions of another pair of said bolts, onepair of superposed edges of the boards being beveled and faced withbacking plates to permit the backing of a book held in said press,another edge of the lower board being grooved to carry a cutter to trima book.

5. A jogging guide comprising a plate having a plurality of windowopenings thereon and an end wall projecting forwardly from each end ofsaid plate, each end wall having notches in its lower edges.

6. A bookbinding apparatus comprising a pair of superposed boardsforming a press and having bolts passing through said boards to hold thesame in assembled relation and also having springs interposed betweenthe boards to hold the same yieldingly in any desired spacedrelationship to permit the free introduction of work between the boards;a tape holder associated with the upper board of the press along oneedge and comprising a bar carried by one pair of said bolts and spacedfrom the board, the bar having a longitudinal slot in substantialregistry with the edge of the board, wedges to hold one end of the tapesin the slot and a removable clamp operating against the edge of theupper board to clamp the lower ends of the tapes; a drill guide carriedby another pair of said bolts and comprising a pair of superposedclamping plates having drill holes in registry, and a removable joggingguide carried by said drill guide. I

7 A bookbinding apparatus comprising a pair of superposed boards forminga press and having bolts passing through said boards to hold the same inassembled relation and also having springs interposed between the boardsto hold the same yieldingly in any desired spaced relationship to permitthe free introduction of work between the boards, said boards having atone edge a pair of ribs projecting toward each other and cooperating to.press the hinge of a book; a tape holder associated with the upper boardof the press and along the same edge and comp-rising a bar carried byone pair of said bolts and spaced from the board, the bar having alongitudinal slot in substantial registry with the edge of the board,wedges to hold one end of the tapes in the slot and a removable clampoperating against the edge of the upper board to clamp the lower ends ofthe tapes, and a drill guide carried by another pair of said bolts andcomprising a pair of superposed clamping plates having drill holes inregistry.

8. A bookbinding apparatus comprising a pair of superposed boardsforming a press and having bolts passingthrough said boards to hold thesame in assembled relation and also having springs interposed betweenthe boards to hold the same yieldingly in any desired spacedrelationship to permit the free introduction of work between the boards,said boards having at one edge a pair of ribs projecting toward eachother and cooperating to press the hinge of a book; a tape holderassociated with the upper board of the press and along the same edge andcomprising a bar carried by one pair of said bolts and spaced from theboard, the bar having a longitudinal slot in substantial registry withthe edge of the board, wedges to hold one end of the tapes in the slotand a removable clamp operating against the edge of the upper board toclamp the lower ends of the tapes, a drill guide carried by another pairof said bolts and comprising a pair of superposed clamping plates havingdrill holes in registry, and a removable jogging guide carried by saiddrill guide.

' 9. A bookbinding apparatus comprising a pair of superposed boardsforming a press and having bolts passing through said boards to hold thesame in assembled relation and also having springs interposed betweenthe boards to hold the same yieldingly in any desired spacedrelationship to permit the free introduction of work between the boards,said boards having at one edge a pair of ribs projecting toward eachother and cooperating to press the hinge of a book; a tape holderassociated with the upper board of the press and along the same edge andcomprising a bar carried by one pair of said bolts "and spaced from thepress, the bar having a longitudinal slot in substantial registry withthe edge of the board, wedges to hold one end of the tapes in the slotand a removable clamp operating against the edge of the upper board toclamp the lower ends of the tapes, a drill guide carried by another pairof said bolts and comprising a pair of superposed clamping plates havingdrill holes in registry, and a removable jogging guide carried by saiddrill guide, one edge of said boards being beveled and faced withbacking irons; another edge of the lower board being. formed with alongitudinal groove; and a cutter unit slidable in the said groove andoperable to trim the edge of the work held in the clamp,

10. A bookbinding apparatus comprising a pair of superposed boardsforming a press and having bolts passing through said boards to hold thesame in assembled relation and also having springs interposed betweenthe boards to hold the same yieldingly in any desired spacedrelationship to permit the free introduction of work between the boards,said boards having at one edge a pair of ribs projecting toward eachother and cooperating to press the hinge of a book; a tape holderassociated with the upper board of the press and along the same edge andcomprising a bar carried by one pair of .said bolts and spaced from thepress, the bar having a longitudinal slot in substantial registry withthe edge of the board, wedges to hold one end of the tapes in the slotand a removable clamp operating against the edge of the upper board toclamp the lower ends of the tapes, a drill guide carried by another pairof said bolts and comprising a pair of superposed clamping plates havingdrill holes in registry, and a removable jogging guide carried by saiddrill guide, one edge of said boards being beveled and faced wit backingirons.

11. A bookbinding apparatus comprising a pair of superposed boardsforming a press and having bolts passing through said boards to hold thesame in assembled relation and also having springs interposed betweenthe boards to hold the same yieldingly in any desired spacedrelationship to permit the free introduction of work between the boards,said boards having at one edge a pair of ribs projecting toward eachother and cooperating to press the hinge of a book; a tape holderassociated with the upper board of the press and along the same edge andcomprising a bar carried by one pair of said bolts and spaced from thepress, the bar having a longitudinal slot in substantial registry withthe edge of the board, wedges to hold one end of the tapes in the slotand a removable clamp operating against the edge of the upper board toclamp the lower ends of the tapes, a drill guide carried by another pairof said bolts and comprising a pair of superposed clamping plates havingdrill holes in registry, and a removable jogging guide carried by saiddrill guide, another edge of the lower board being formed with alongitudinal groove; and a cutter unit slidable in the said groove andoperable to trim the edge of the work held in the clamp.

12. A bookbinding apparatus comprising a pair of superposed boardsforming a press, a threaded bolt passing through each corner of saidpress and extending substantially beyond the upper board, a tape holdercarried by the protruding portions of one pair of said bolts, and adrill guide carried by the protruding portions of another pair of saidbolts.

13. A bookbinding apparatus comprising a pair of superposed boardsforming a press, a threaded bolt passing through each corner-of saidpress and extending substantially beyond the upper board, and a drillguide carried by the 4 protruding portions of a pair of said bolts, saiddrill guide comprising a pair of narrow plates carried by said bolts,spring means for holding said plates in any desired spaced relation topermit the introduction of work between the plates, said plates eachhaving a series of holes equally spaced from the edge of the plate toserve as drill guides.

14. A bookbinding apparatus comprising a pair of superposed boardsforming a press, a threaded bolt passing through each corner of saidpress and extending substantially beyond the upper board, and a drillguide carried by the protruding portions of a pair of said bolts, onepair of superposed edges of the boards being beveled and faced withbacking plates to permit the backing of a book held in said press,another edge of the lower board being grooved to carry a cutter to trima book.

MILTON BERLAN STEIN

